Forum Activity for @monica

ginger or 26 vsl

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I bought a full sized cherry mcspadden about a month ago and though I love the sound i find it very uncomfortable to play. 1 week ago I bought a ginger cherry from a friend. I am really enjoying it, in fact every chance I have.. I play it. I am 5 3"..though I have long fingers my hands are small I suppose.. I know that I want a walnut next ..maybe with a redwood top. I am debating another ginger or 26 vsl..though I wonder if that too won't be comfortable to play ..any thoughts

updated by @monica: 06/11/15 07:42:40AM

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I don't mind the sound but it is awkward for finger picking.

Pamela Rossetti said:

I always play 3 strings or 4 equidistant...do not like double melody..the sound or the feel on my fingers.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you for your suggestion Mandy.

Mandy said:

I'd remove the one closest to the soundboard (the outermost string). I find myself using 3strings a lot now and I like it.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you for the suggestion Geekling.

Geekling said:

I find removing the inner melody string is best for noter playing, and makes the strings equidistant for fingerpicking. :-)

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'd remove the one closest to the soundboard (the outermost string). I find myself using 3strings a lot now and I like it.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Measure between the bass string and the middle string. Use the same measure from the middle string to the melody strings and leave the one that's closest to that measure. As an alternative though, have you thought about 4 independent strings for fingerpicking? I love to use 4 strings tuned DAAd, DAdd, DAdc, DGGd, DGdd, DGdc, EAAd, etc. Gives you a lot of options.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thats a good idea Skip !!

Thanks for the tip Robert :)

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dulcimers were always three stringed. Some designs had weak sounding melody and a double string was added. That became the norm. I always play with one melody. You can remove either one and see how it feels. You can always move the single melody into the open slot on the nut, whatever works... Bob.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I loosen the inside one and pull it over the side, makes a spare if needed. This gives me an even spacing between strings.

playing 3 strings versus 4 ,for finger picking

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I am focusing more on finger picking, using both pick and bare fingers as i am learning celtic songs and finding that the 2 melody strings don't sound great. Which melody string would you recommend that I remove , the one on the outside or inside?

thanks

updated by @monica: 06/11/15 07:42:40AM

I'd say have a pro builder look at it ..there are a few here ask around

Joshua, Talk to Keven Messinger. He lives in Bruceton Mills, WV and is a dulcimer builder and does some restorations as well.

updated by @dan-goad: 02/15/16 10:04:52PM

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thank you Lexie, I'm so glad Lynn Austin is building these now.

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Excellent, I love the sounds of your Kantele Cynthia. It is nice to have all three songs in one place.

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Vermont Kantele Maker

Just as I thought, Lynn Austin of southern Vermont has a new 5 string kantele up on ebay for sale, her second one. I knew she wouldn't be able to resist making them. And it's a beauty, for all of you who want to enter this wonderful world.

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thanks Lynn, I couldn't have done it without you. There are tunes here, so I'm wondering whether it's the bells or the old Finnish tune you're talking about...wait until you hear Supplication with improv. and...I'm thinking soundholes...cross with thorns maybe?

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Cynthia, I don't know how I missed this post earlier. That was lovely!!!...I find that tune mesmerizing....

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Aw shucks Patty thanks, I do work hard at things though...sure am loving that instrument though.

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Steph thank you, I sort of did this one so people thinking about it can hear what you can do with the 5-string. It is not tab, it's music, but not so hard to learn 5 notes if those who can't read music. Lani's first book teaches that and she has several, so for those who don't play by ear, you'd have plenty of music. She seems to be the only one writing books for it.

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Cynthia, you are very talented. I love it that you are showing us the kantele. It's a beautiful sounding instrument. Wunderbar!!!

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thank you Lexie, that is the song that bewitched me first, and now playing that simple 5 note song, I'm even more convinced there's a lot of magic in that strange instrument...I think you might just have some fun with a 5 string. I may actually learn to make them. Never know...

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Cynthia, I loved that song, very pretty to hear the bells.

You are really going on that Kantele and love hearing you play. Keep em coming!

Kantele

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Here's s sweet Finnish folk tune trad. played on 5 string kantele, which I'm playing on my 10 string as I don't have a 5. This is something not so do-able on a noter/drone dulcimer!

Supplication (Sacred Harp)

and my first song played a couple of days after I got it:

I'm having fun with my 10 string kit from Musicmakers made by Lynn Austin.

updated by @cynthia-wigington: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Has as much to do with availability as anything else I think Grahame.

Where did you get a dulcimer from back in those days? It took me nearly a year to find one, and I was really looking ... and it was crap. I ended up almost rebuilding the thing.
Joni Mitchell broke hers on tour and her Road Manager was near to desperation trying to find a replacement. There just wasn't that many instruments around.

As I remember those days, Irish bands were more interested in adding mandolins and bazoukis anyway.

The other side has more to do with what the record distribution companies put out, Steeleye Span were one of the few and Tim Hart got featured. Otherwise it was small lables like Bill Leader's that carried a few players, Roger Nicholson, Pete & Chris Coe, Stephan Sobell etc.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Imagine the Mama's and the Papa's with Richard and Mimi instead of Michelle and John. That's what could have evolved...

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have always wondered how Richard Farina's music would have developed had he not died so young. Compare their two albums, the second one is much rockier with more conventional instrumentation, and dare I say it, a more straightforward writing style. Would he have given up the dulcimer altogether and become a rocker!?!

Grahame

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Right you are, Ken. I don't think there would have been a California dulcimer scene back in the 1970s had it not been for Joni and Richard.

Here is Joni:

Here are Richard and Mimi:

Here is Cyndi Lauper:

Ken, you'll be happy to see that Faria is using a noter. And I have to smile when Pete Seeger asks "What key? D?"

By the way, many years ago Neal Hellman put out a book in which he transcribed every dulcimer tune by RichardFaria. The book is long out-of-print, but Neal has made a pdf available online free of charge. Follow the links in his blog called LiberatingFaria .

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Joni Mitchell although she was a solo performer. Richard&Mimi Faria duo (she was sister of Joan Baez)

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I wouldn't call it folk/rock, but Cyndi Lauper has been playing dulcimer on stage and TV for the last few years.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Another band from around 1968 was.... A cid Symphony.. You can find there one and only album on you tube... Bob.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Kenny Loggins current group Blue Sky Riders uses a dulcimer, the Rolling Stones song Lady Jane used a dulcimer, and I think Take Me to the Other Side by Aerosmith did as well.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

David Schnafer played with the Judds on some of their country/rock albums. also John Foggarty has used one

of mine on several albums in very brief lead in solo's

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Grahame, I can't think of a folk rock band in the US which used a dulcimer. My 1st record with a dulcimer on it was Steeleye Span's "Below the Salt." I had no idea there was a dulcimer on it nor what a dulcimer was 'til a trip to Mt View, Arkansas the next year.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Of course I am forgetting Gay Woods of Irish duo Gay & Terry Woods. She played dulcimer in their duo and also on "The Woods Band" album, notably on "January Snows" . G &T were also in briefly in Dr Strangely Strange but never officially recorded with them though there is a very poor quality tape of them playing a gig in Bunjies. London, which shows that the two acts just joined repertoires.

Grahame

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Val, I would love to hear that recording! Paul Brady on dulcimer with Mick Moloney - wow!

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Grahame it was used sparsely down through the years by different bands and musicians. I gave examples of it's use by different musicians from the 60's to the present day some years ago. My first encounter with the dulcimer in Irish music was Paul Brady backing Mick Moloney on a 1969 LP by the Johnston's. Mick Moloney played The Kilfenora Jig on the Mandolin and Paul did the backing on Dulcimer.

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I saw my first dulcimer in Steeleye Span, although I heard Brian Jones before them, I didn't make the dulcimer connection. I played in many a late 60s early 70s bands. I brought a dulcimer to a jam in 73 and nobody cared to listen to it. Back then it was all about power and feedback, I have the damaged hearing to remind me of those days. Today I have a great appreciation for ITM. No question about it, there is room for a dulcimer in a session. You just need folk's bringing dulcimers along... Bob

Dulcimer use in folk/rock bands

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

While there seems to have been plenty of UK folk rock bands using dulcimer occasionally in the early 70s (Fairport Convention/Steeleye Span/Strawbs/Trees/Mr Fox/Five Hand Reel etc) is anyone aware of it being used by Irish bands or US folk/rock bands? I can't think of any! Am I wrong? Why do people think this is? Why has the dulcimer never taken off in Ireland when it so obviously suits their folk music?

Grahame

updated by @grahame-hood: 06/11/15 07:42:39AM

I have a standard Banjammer, a smaller Banjammer "Cutie", and a Cousin Clem box dulcimer. Love 'em all!

I saw this one before , there are several good videos on Mike Clemmer's dulcimer's.This past Jan I ordered two of Mike's dulcimer's one is his fiddle side 5 string and the other is his banjammer. the thing I dom't like is the wait, 3 to 4 months.